You should book an eye test at least every two years, and more frequently if you:

• are a child wearing glasses
• have diabetes
• are aged 40 or over and have a family history of glaucoma
• are aged 70 or over

Every eye test is tailored to address the individual’s specific needs. As well as measuring your sight and ensuring your prescription is up-to-date, the examination can pick up signs of general health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, as well as screening and advice for many eye conditions such age-related macula degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts. We also screen and manage for other eye conditions such as blepharitis and dry eyes.

As well as routine eye tests, we carry out specialist occupational examinations, such as DVLA tests for drivers.

Free NHS Eye Tests

You could be entitled to a free eye test if you:

• are under 16, or 16-18 and in full-time education
• are over 60
• (or a close family member) have been diagnosed with glaucoma
• are registered blind or partially sighted
• claim benefits
• are entitled to Complex Lens Vouchers or hold an HC2 or HC3 certificate.    

There is more information about free sight tests on the NHS website.

Great glasses can make you happy, boost your confidence, and show off your personal style. Our experienced, professional, and qualified team will help you to choose the perfect glasses (or sunglasses) for you.

We will spend time with you to find the right glasses and lenses for your face shape, skin tone, style preferences, occupational needs, lifestyle and budget.

If you are bored with the same old selection of uninspiring eye wear you see elsewhere and are ready to find glasses that fit comfortably and look fabulous on you, without any of that rush and sales pressure, then welcome to Loyal Specs!

When choosing sunglasses, it’s important to consider what they will be used for – different conditions and lifestyles call for different types of lens and frame. For example, if you play sports you can obtain sunglasses specifically designed for sailing, skiing, golf, tennis, cycling and fishing. There are also sunglasses lenses that are better for driving because they cut out reflected road glare.

Prescription sunglasses are available with single vision, bifocal or varifocal lenses. They can also be made with photochromic lenses which have a light tint indoors yet darken in sunlight.

No matter what your sunglasses requirements, we will be able to help you pick the perfect pair from our wide selection of quality brands and the latest styles.

For many people, contact lenses can be a great alternative to wearing glasses. Whether you have a vision problem or just want to make a fashion statement, contact lenses can really alter your style.

Contact lenses for every situation

Nowadays,  there is a contact lens to meet most needs. Daily disposable lenses mean there is no need to deal with cleaning solutions. Reusable contact lenses often better suit the frequent lens wearer, and can sometimes be the best option if you have a complex prescription. Multifocal contact lenses are ideal for presbyopia, where your eyes (usually over the age of 40) begin to struggle to switch between close-up and distance vision. There are now even toric contact lenses for people with astigmatism. If you're looking to make a statement, there are also coloured contact lenses!

Contact lenses for kids and young people

Thanks to disposable contact lenses, children and teenagers can also benefit from contact lenses even though their sight and prescription changes rapidly as they develop.

Contacts can be worn from an early age - often from around 10. But there is no hard-and-fast rule - some may be able to start earlier, others later. Every child is different, so we can advise accordingly after discussion and examination.

Contact lenses for sport

Contact lenses can be perfect for many sports. They provide better peripheral vision than glasses, they are safer as there is nothing to get broken, and there is less of a problem with glare and reflections. Multifocal contact lenses are brilliant for sports such as golf where both near and long vision is needed.

Why not try contact lenses?

Book yourself in for a contact lens consultation to discuss the best options for you. We offer a free contact lens trial, giving you the opportunity to take sample pairs away and try them out.

You should book your child for an eye exam from around the age of 3, or sooner if you have any concerns about their eyes.

Children's sight changes rapidly as they are growing and developing. And younger kids typically can't communicate effectively that they are having vision problems.  As a result, issues often go undetected, leading to educational and behavioural challenges and potentially to serious long-term vision harm.  This risk is worsened nowadays by the amount of screen time that many kids are exposed to.

The NHS covers the cost of eye tests for all children under 16 and those under 19 and in full time education. If your child needs glasses, the NHS also contributes to the cost of that.

Some common warning signs of vision problems in youngsters are:

• Frequent headaches
• One eye turning in, out, up or down
• Screwing up eyes when reading or watching television
• Frequently rubbing eyes or blinking
• Avoidance of reading, writing or drawing
• Difficulty catching a ball
• Not making expected progress at school
• Behavioural, concentration or performance problems at school

We are experienced in eye care for children. We provide child-friendly eye tests, even accommodating children too young to talk or read an eye chart. We also stock a wide range of glasses designed specifically for children.

Thanks to disposable contact lenses, children and teenagers can also benefit from contact lenses even though their sight and prescription changes rapidly as they develop. Contacts can be worn from an early age - often from around 10. But there is no hard-and-fast rule - some may be able to start earlier, others later. Every child is different, so we can advise accordingly after discussion and examination.

Having the right eyewear for your sport can make a big difference - to performance as well as to looking good.

Regular eye examinations ensure that your vision is perfect, so you maintain that competitive edge.

The right glasses or goggles will protect your eyes during sport and can reduce distraction. Specialist sports frames are generally very lightweight and strong.

Expert fitting makes sure that your glasses or goggles remain secure and stable during sport. 

The right lenses can make a big difference to your performance and comfort. Special tints, anti-reflective coatings, and polarised lenses can reduce distracting reflections and improve contrast. Hydrophobic coatings repel rain and moisture from your lenses. If you play outdoor sports,  your lenses must offer strong UV protection - hight exposure to UV exposure can encourage early development of cataracts and is also a risk factor for macular degeneration. Mirror coatings can be helpful for activity such as skiing where you are exposed to lots of glare and reflection as they block more light than standard lenses. Photochromatic lenses change colour depending on the light - useful where you are outdoors for a long part of the day as light conditions change.

Contact lenses can be a good solution for many sports. We offer free contact lens trials, which also gives you the opportunity to take sample pairs away and try them in your sport.

Enjoy your sport and get that competitive edge! Visit us at Loyal Specs for great sports eyewear advice and equipment.

Many people get dry eyes. This happens when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or if there is something wrong with the tears. The condition tends to be more common in women and in people over 65.

You may be suffering this condition if your eyes are any of these things:

• itchy
• sore
• burning
• gritty
• red
• blurry
• sensitive to light
• more watery than normal (though that sounds contradictory!)

Dry eyes are uncomfortable but not usually clinically serious. However, the condition can lead to severe complications, symptoms of which may include extreme sensitivity to light, very red and painful eyes, and changes in your vision.

There is no cure for dry eyes as such. But, there are treatments and techniques that can reduce the discomfort and symptoms.

At Loyal Specs we are experienced in helping people with dry eyes. We can examine for the underlying causes and offer advice and help in managing the symptoms, discomfort and causes. We can also let you know if the problem needs medical treatment.

A cataract is when the lens of your eye becomes cloudy, affecting the quality of the image formed on your retina. The resulting deterioration of your vision may not be obvious at first, but gradually worsens and seriously affects reading, driving, and daily life. Eventually, surgery is needed to replace the lens.

Regular eye examinations are important and enable us to spot early development of cataracts. We are able then to offer advice and assistance, to monitor progression, and to refer you to a specialist as needed.